Food, Drink, and Consumer Products

Akeem Gardner is the Founder and CEO of Canurta. He is an innovative entrepreneur with over five years of experience in industrial hemp enterprises. Akeem uses his keen legal intelligence from his L.L.B. from the University of Kent to solve complex problems. He has successfully built captivating businesses, led high-performance teams across multi-channel platforms, and strategically aligned profitability with sustainability and economic development in Ontario. In recognition of his remarkable leadership, forward-thinking, and innovation in the community, Akeem received the Brampton Board of Trade Top 40 Under 40 award in 2019. He was also one of three recipients of the 2020 MNP Future Leader award. Akeem was recently accepted into Admare Biosciences Executive Institute Cohort V as one of only 20 Life Science Executives. As a minority founder in life sciences and biotechnology, Akeem is aware of his responsibility to help bring equitable healthcare solutions to the market while inspiring and creating opportunities for the next generation of BIPOC entrepreneurs, researchers, and impact makers. He is passionate about creating positive change in his community and making a difference in the world.